American would have survived just fine without slavery. However, it may not have expanded as much as it did. Or, it may have. The westward expansion was done WITHOUT slaves.Vegas » 4 minutes ago » wrote: ↑ I agree that today's oppression is not the same as it was in the 1700s. The two are unrelated. The point is that America could not have survived without slavery. They didn't have a better life here. It was worse. Much much worse for the reasons I stated.